Springfield
township was once a part of the original Cool Spring township (the
southeast quarter of the county), then in 1802 was in the region known
as Wolf Creek township, and about 1805 a separate township called
Springfield was created. This Springfield township as first formed
contained the territory which in August, 1849, was set off as a new
township with the name Findley.
The settlement of Springfield
township began before the close of the eighteenth century. Robert
Gilmer was a settler about 1797, and the Dennistons settled in the
southwest part of the township a little later. Thomas McCoy came about
the same time and married a Miss Denniston, and their descendants still
live here.
Along the course later pursued by the Mercer-Butler
turnpike were located at an early day the estates and homes of the
Black family. Adam Black was the pioneer forefather of this family in
Mercer county, and settled in Springfield township in 1805. Several
members of this family were privates or officers in the war of 1812,
and one or two were active in state politics. Of the present
generation, several are well known in business and social life. The
settlement near the north side of the township called Blacktown or Balm
postoffice commemorated the family’s prominence in this locality. Henry
Black built the first house here. The postoffice of Balm was
established in May, 1858, the first postmaster being Joseph Bogardus,
and was discontinued when the rural delivery system was inaugurated.
Harriet Black was the first teacher of the school in the village, about
1847, and the first store was opened by a Black.
The Pittsburg
pike, south of the bridge over Neshannock creek, passes by the original
settlements of Springfield Falls and Leesburg. Leesburg in recent years
has become a railroad station and the junction point of the Leesburg or
Wolf Creek branch of the Pennsylvania Rail road. James Palmer built the
first house in this locality, it is said, in 1828, and was one of the
most active of that family in this township. A store in which were kept
all the articles of merchandise needed by the people of the
neighborhood was started by two Palmer brothers. About a mile north of
the site of Leesburg, Arthur Johnson, who came in 1826, opened what was
called the “New Lodge Inn,” and in December, 1836, when a postoffice
was established for this vicinity it was opened in the tavern, with the
landlord as postmaster, and was named New Lodge postoffice. This name
it retained until 1845, when the change of name to Leesburg was
probably coincident with the removal of the office into that village.
The county system of rural delivery has resulted in the abandonment of
the Leesburg office. The railroad station known as Leesburg is situated
a mile or more west of the old settlement, and there is little to
distinguish the roadside at Leesburg from any other rural landscape.
The
Leesburg branch of the railroad, passing through the southern part of
the township, has resulted in the development of the coal mines along
this route, and the energy of some of the well-known citizens is
directed to the operation of mines in this vicinity.
The village
of London is located partly on land that was first owned by Adam Black.
A postoffice was established there in March, 1848, David Gilson being
the first postmaster. He also chose the name for the postoffice.
The
Pittsburg pike, south of the bridge over Neshannock creek, passes by
the original settlements of Springfield Falls and Leesburg. Leesburg in
recent years has become a railroad station and the junction point of
the Leesburg or Wolf Creek branch of the Pennsylvania Rail road. James
Palmer built the first house in this locality, it is said, in 1828, and
was one of the most active of that family in this township. A store in
which were kept all the articles of merchandise needed by the people of
the neighborhood was started by two Palmer brothers. About a mile
north of the site of Leesburg, Arthur Johnson, who came in 1826, opened
what was called the “New Lodge Inn,” and in December, 1836, when a
postoffice was established for this vicinity it was opened in the
tavern, with the landlord as postmaster, and was named New Lodge
postoffice. This name it retained until 1845, when the change of name
to Leesburg was probably coincident with the removal of the office into
that village. The county system of rural delivery has resulted in the
abandonment of the Leesburg office. The railroad station known as
Leesburg is situated a mile or more west of the old settlement, and
there is little to distinguish the roadside at Leesburg from any other
rural landscape.
The Leesburg branch of the railroad, passing
through the southern part of the township, has resulted in the
development of the coal mines along this route, and the energy of some
of the well-known citizens is directed to the operation of mines in
this vicinity.
The village of London is located partly on land
that was first owned by Adam Black. A postoffice was established there
in March, 1848, David Gilson being the first postmaster. He also chose
the name for the postoffice.
Source: Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County, 1909, page 157 - 158
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| Transformation of Springfield Twp. |
Formed in 1805 from Wolf Creek Twp.
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| Then divided into | | Findley Twp. |
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